Foreign tourists spent at least �360m in Edinburgh last year

It is the first time since the mid-1990s that the capital has welcomed so many tourists from abroad.

New figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics reveal 1.134 million foreign tourists visited the city in 2005 - up 194,000 on 2004.

They are thought to have spent at least �360m during their stays in the city.

Terrorism attacks

It is also the first time international visitor numbers to Edinburgh have hit the million figure mark since before the terrorism attacks of 11 September 2001 and the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in the same year.

Philip Riddle, VisitScotland chief executive, said he thought a key factor contributing to the increase in 2005 was the rise in direct flights from European cities to Edinburgh.

He said: "The international market is particularly important to Edinburgh, as it is the iconic centre of Scotland, and this factor, combined with the wide array of things to do and see - and the fact that it is becoming increasingly accessible - has a real motivating influence to entice overseas visitors to the capital.

"Last year, through some of our biggest ever marketing campaigns, top events and festivals throughout the year, and the hype surrounding the Da Vinci Code film, we were able to put the international spotlight on Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland."